SId the Kid's Canadian Adventure....

So, in the coming weeks Sidney Crosby will finally be making his LONG awaited debut in western Canada. This is his THIRD season in the NHL, that's right, THIRD. and it is not as if he was injured or suspended when his team went there, this is the first time since the advent of the 'new' NHL that Pittsburgh has ventured to the Great White North - the West anyway. What kind of marketing genius came up with this plan? I know that they want to promote divisional games and rivalries and the like, and that there is no such thing as a perfect schedule, there will always be detractors but the system they have in place now should be about fifth on the list of how to run the league. They are not getting their superstars out there as other leagues such as the NBA and MLB manage to. While baseball play their own division a hell of a lot the advent of intra-league games has added a nice element to the game the way hockey needs to market itself, especially south of the 49th as interest is mild at best. Gary Betman in penny pinching and trying to cut travel costs has basically created a system where the New York City/Island/Jersey teams have 60 odd games within their home market essentially. What is wrong with this picture? There needs to be a shake up and butts in the seats and sending superstars to other building will not hurt no matter how much you have to pay to get them there!

Something From Nothing...

The start of the NHL season has seen a lot of goaltenders put a lot of zeros on the board, and a lot who we expected to put up these numbers show more holes than Swiss Cheese. (This is family show folks!) Anyway, the point is people are once again whining and complaining that hockey needs more goals. No, what hockey needs is more games like the Ottawa Montreal game of 10 days ago and the 0-0 draw that looked like a 6-6 game Vancouver and Edmonton played the other week. Hockey needs exciting games, animosity between teams and well played games, not 10 goals a game, not rules that handcuff goalies and defence men alike to prevent scoring chances. Fans in Canada realize this, they don't care that there aren't a record number of goals being scored, as long as the game in entertaining. As long as the players look like they care and leave it all on the ice every night. After all they make millions to do so, why should we expect any less? My point is the drastic measures that many suggest such as small equipment and larger nets is a horrible and desperate idea. the game is great the way it is. If Americana's don't like it, and apparently many don't they won't watch, and many aren't, but this is not the game's fault. The game is what it is and trying to cheapen it or make it a total business devoid of any tradition is pathetic and I should hope never brought forth. Pay attention Gary, this is important, the game is what matters, first and foremost, that's why you're there...for now...